New Middle School Dance to Feature Halloween Contest on Friday

The second youth dance for grades 6 to 8 — also a Halloween Costume Contest — to be held at the Long Hill Township Community Center and open to all middle schoolers from throughout the area — is expected to become a monthly event.

And the dance also has caught on as a way for parents to have an evening out and know that their children — on the cusp of being too old for a babysitter and too young to leave along — are being supervised in a fun environment, said Al LiCata.

The Millington and Stirling Fire Companies and the Columbus Club of Bernardsville and Basking Ridge will be host the Youth Dance & Halloween Costume Contest at the Long Hill Community Center from 7 to 10 p.m. this Friday. Cost is $10, payable at the door.

Light refreshments will be served during the event. The Long Hill Township Community Center is at 264 S. Warren Ave. off Valley Road in the Stirling section of Long Hill.

While this month's dance will center on Halloween, future dances may have more of a service theme, said LiCata. He said that November's dance may ask those who attend to bring a donation for a food bank.

Friday's event will include prizes for the costume contest: First place $50,
second place $25; and third place, $15. Winners will be announced during the dance.

LiCata said parents from as far as Madison and throughout the Somerset Hills had brough their children to last month's initial dance.

Parents are asked to drop off their students no earlier than 6:45 p.m. and be ready for pick up out in the parking lot by 9:50 p.m., LiCata said.

Members of the Millington, Stirling Fire Companies and the Columbus Club will be joined by other approved chaperones to ensure a safe environment is provided to those attending, he said. A deejay will take requests and contests will be held throughout the night for prizes.

“We have been serving our community coming up on 100 years,” said Millington volunteer firefighter and Long Hill police officer Gary Bauer. "The dances will provide the youth of our greater area with a safe place to go and just have fun, and the proceeds we realize will help the Millington and Stirling Volunteer Fire Companies plan for their 100th Anniversary for the community in the coming year."

Bauer said the new dances are a win for young people throughout the greater area and a win for the volunteers at both fire companies as they prepare for the 100th anniversary.

Dress code and rules

The dress code for the dances are the same as what students are allowed to wear to school, LiCata said.

Other rules include; no foul language, no bullying or fighting, no outside food or beverages permitted. All who attend are asked to show respect for the facility and fellow attendees.

Once students enter the dance, they are not permitted to leave without a parent coming to the front desk to claim them personally, for safety reasons. If a student is to be picked up by someone that is not a parent, a note will need to be given upon arrival.

“The rules will be posted and announced at the dance for all to know. The goal is to provide a fun, yet safe place for the students to enjoy themselves,” Bauer said.

Any questions or for more information contact the dance committee at 908-339-5937.